Wearable smart gateway

• US 10,269,234 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mutualink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mutualink, Inc.
• Inventors: Wengrovitz, Michael S., Lipman, Derrell, Mazzarella, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Divito, Walter J
• Application Number:
  US14/919,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20170116846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for a wearable smart gateway (WSG) that is capable of providing interoperability gateway functions for a variety of wearable devices. In an embodiment, the WSG detects one or more devices within a proximity that use communication interfaces supported by corresponding plug-ins installed in the memory. Then, the WSG establishes communication channels with the detected one or more devices according to configurations within the corresponding plug-ins, wherein the established communication channels forms a personal area network. The WSG may perform interoperability gateway functions to communicate data monitored by the one or more devices within the personal area network to an agency via a wide area data network.

Claims

1. A portable system, comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of plug-ins to support respective communication interfaces and protocols of a plurality of devices, each plug-in of the plurality of plug-ins being configured by an agency to support a particular device of the plurality of devices and to process data received in accordance with requirements of the agency;

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

install two or more plug-ins of the plurality of plug-ins upon receiving the two or more plug-ins from the agency, wherein a first plug-in of the two or more plug-ins is configured to support a first communication interface operated by a first type of device associated with the agency, and a second plug-in of the two or more plug-ins is configured to support a second communication interface operated by a second type of device associated with the agency, the second communication interface being a different interface instance from the first communication interface;

detect one or more devices within a proximity threshold of the portable system;

determine that the detected one or more devices use the first communication interface or the second communication interface;

responsive to determining that the detected one or more devices use the first communication interface or the second communication interface, establish one or more communication channels with the detected one or more devices according to configurations within the corresponding installed first or second plug-in, wherein the established communication channels form a personal area network between the portable system and the detected one or more devices; and

perform interoperability gateway functions to communicate data monitored by the detected one or more devices within the personal area network to the agency via a wide area data network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a connectivity path provided by one or more network devices having access to the wide area data network; and

establish a VPN tunnel within the detected connectivity path, wherein the monitored data are communicated within the VPN tunnel to the agency.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a connectivity path provided by one or more network devices having access to the wide area data network; and

encrypt, within the detected connectivity path, the monitored data communicated to the agency.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein to detect one or more devices within the proximity threshold, the at least one processor is configured to detect the one or more devices within the proximity threshold based on at least one of a signal strength of the detected one or more devices or a geolocation of the detected one or more devices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, from at least one detected device of the detected one or more devices, a vitals status monitored by the at least one detected device, wherein the vitals status indicates a current status of a user operating the at least one detected device; and

receive, from the agency, a threshold rule for the vitals status, and wherein the system further comprises;

an output transducer configured to provide an alert when the vitals status exceeds a pre-determined threshold, wherein the alert comprises at least one of a sound, a light, or a haptic feedback.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive the data monitored by the detected one or more devices supported by the corresponding plug-ins, the data including data components from different devices of the detected one or more devices, the data components including at least one of a vitals status, one or more video camera image frames, and a location indicator; and

provide the data to the agency such that each of the data components correspond to a same time that the data was monitored.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the detected one or more devices include a short-range beacon, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

send an alert to the agency indicating that the short-range beacon is detected, wherein the alert is sent periodically or on request.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect that the short-range beacon is no longer within the proximity threshold; and

send an alert to the agency indicating that the short-range beacon is no longer within the proximity threshold.

9. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a wearable smart gateway (WSG) implemented on one or more processors, within a proximity threshold of the WSG, one or more devices that use communication interfaces supported by corresponding plug-ins, wherein the plug-ins are configured to support respective communication interfaces and protocols of a plurality of devices, and wherein each plug-in is configured by an agency to support a particular device of the plurality of devices and to process data received in accordance with requirements of the agency;

installing, by the WSG, a first plug-in configured to support a first communication interface operated by a first type of device associated with the agency, and a second plug-in configured to support a second communication interface operated by a second type of device associated with the agency, the second communication interface being a different interface instance from the first communication interface;

determine, by the WSG, that the one or more detected devices use the first communication interface or the second communication interface;

responsive to determining that the detected one or more devices use the first communication interface or the second communication interface, establishing, by the WSG, communication channels with the detected one or more devices according to configurations within the corresponding installed first or second plug-in, wherein the established communication channels form a personal area network between the WSG and the detected one or more devices; and

performing, by the WSG, interoperability gateway functions to communicate data monitored by the one or more devices within the personal area network to the agency via a wide area data network.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a connectivity path provided by one or more network devices having access to the wide area data network; and

establishing a VPN tunnel within the detected connectivity path, wherein the monitored data are communicated within the VPN tunnel to the agency.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a connectivity path provided by one or more network devices having access to the wide area data network; and

encrypting, within the detected connectivity path, the monitored data communicated to the agency.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting one or more devices within the proximity threshold comprises detecting the one or more devices within the proximity threshold based on at least one of a signal strength of a detected device of the one or more detected devices or a geolocation of the detected device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, from at least one detected device of the detected one or more devices, a vitals status monitored by the at least one detected device, wherein the vitals status indicates a status of a user operating the at least one detected device;

receiving, from the agency, a threshold rule for the vitals status; and

providing an alert, by an output transducer of the WSG, when the vitals status exceeds a pre-determined threshold associated with the threshold rule, wherein the alert comprises at least one of a sound, a light, or a haptic feedback.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising

receiving the data monitored by the detected one or more devices supported by the corresponding plug-ins, the data including data components from different devices of the detected one or more devices, the data components including at least one of a vitals status, one or more video camera image frames, and a location indicator;

and

providing the data to the agency such that each of the data components correspond to a same time that the data was monitored.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the detected one or more devices include a short-range beacon, and the method further comprising:

sending an alert to the agency indicating that the short-range beacon is detected, wherein the alert is sent periodically or on request.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting that the short-range beacon is no longer within the proximity threshold; and

sending an alert to the agency indicating that the short-range beacon is no longer within the proximity threshold.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the detected one or more devices include a short-range beacon and a wearable device worn or carried by a user operating the WSG, and the method further comprising:

upon detecting the short-range beacon, sending a command to control the wearable device.

18. A method, comprising:

establishing communication channels with one or more wearable smart gateways (WSGs), wherein each of the WSGs installs a first plug-in configured to support a first communication interface operated by a first type of device associated with an agency, and a second plug-in configured to support a second communication interface operated by a second type of device associated with the agency, the second communication interface being a different interface instance from the first communication interface, each plug-in configured to process data received in accordance with one or more rules, and wherein each of the WSGs determines that one or more detected devices use the first communication interface or the second communication interface, and performs interoperability gateway functions to enable the one or more detected devices to telemeter data through the WSG;

receiving, from the one or more WSGs through a wide area data network, data monitored by the one or more devices detected by the one or more WSGs, wherein data monitored by the one or more detected devices corresponding to the one or more WSGs is associated with one or more corresponding field users respectively operating the one or more corresponding WSGs; and

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) depicting current statuses of the one or more corresponding field users associated with the one or more corresponding WSGs, wherein a current status of a field user includes a subset of data monitored by the one or more devices detected by the corresponding WSG, and wherein the subset of data is associated with a same point in time.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting the proximity threshold to at least one WSG of the one or more WSGs based on an input from an administrator.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein data telemetered by at least one WSG includes a vitals status, the method further comprising:

sending, to the at least one WSG, a threshold rule for the vitals status, wherein the at least one WSG alerts the field user when the vitals status being monitored exceeds the threshold rule.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting to at least one WSG the first plug-in and the second plug-in.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a request from a computing device operated by a requesting user to access the data transmitted from the one or more WSGs;

providing to the computing device within a browser-based application data associated with at least a subset of the one or more WSGs, wherein the at least a subset is determined based on at least one characteristic of the requesting user, the at least one characteristic including one or more of an access permission, a rank, a task, a user identity, or a group identification.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining a current location of a field user operating a corresponding WSG of the one or more WSGs based on a beacon detected by the corresponding WSG; and

indicating, within the GUI, that the field user is within a proximity threshold of the beacon.

24. A system, comprising:

a memory;

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

establish communication channels with one or more wearable smart gateways (WSGs), wherein each of the WSGs installs a first plug-in configured to support a first communication interface operated by a first type of device associated with an agency, and a second plug-in configured to support a second communication interface operated by a second type of device associated with the agency, the second communication interface being a different interface instance from the first communication interface, each plug-in configured to process data received in accordance with one or more rules, and wherein each of the WSGs determines that one or more detected devices use the first communication interface or the second communication interface, and performs interoperability gateway functions to enable the one or more detected devices to telemeter data through the WSG;

receive, from the one or more WSGs through a wide area data network, data monitored by the one or more devices detected by the one or more WSGs, wherein data monitored by the one or more detected devices corresponding to the one or more WSGs is associated with one or more corresponding field users respectively operating the one or more corresponding WSGs; and

provide a graphical user interface (GUI) depicting current statuses of the one or more corresponding field users associated with one or more corresponding WSGs, wherein a current status of a field user includes a subset of data monitored by the one or more devices detected by the corresponding WSG, and wherein the subset of data is associated with a same point in time.